Fencing and ground mix approved for Stephenville baseball field

Coun. Mike Tobin of the finance committee during discussions at Thursday’s regular general meeting of the Stephenville town council. - Frank Gale

It looks like a new baseball field is going ahead in Stephenville.

Council members in attendance at Thursday’s regular general meeting approved requests for quotations for baseball field fencing and for infield mix – the ground used on the pitcher’s mound and outside the grassed area.

At a Feb. 21 council meeting Coun. Mark Felix was adamant he wasn’t going to have anything to do with approving a large sum of money for a new baseball diamond, and had the matter deferred.

However, it was back on the agenda on Thursday at a meeting that Felix, the finance committee chairman, was absent from.

The approvals for both quotations went ahead, with all those in attendance in agreement. In addition to Felix, Coun. Maurice Hynes was not in attendance.

Mike Campbell, town manager, said in a phone call after the meeting that it’s estimated the costs this year to the town will be about $30,000 for the quotations it is seeking, which will be added to Emera’s donation of $90,000, for a $120,000 field.

The facility will be located on Igloo Road to the rear of the Stephenville Dome, an area already levelled by students in the College of the North Atlantic’s heavy equipment operator course, who used it as a practice site.

They will be back to do more work on the location this spring.

Campbell said the original price tag at the February meeting included some additions, including a score clock and batters cage.

He said those things could be added in subsequent years.

It’s expected the field will be done with hydroseeding this year and then left until the grass is mature enough for use, so there is time to add to the facility.